Sunday morning October 23

Preparation

Opening response

Lord, open our lipsand our mouth will proclaim your praise.

Prayer of thanksgiving

Blessed are you, Sovereign God, creator of all,to you be glory and praise forever.You founded the earth in the beginningand the heavens are the work of your hands.In the fullness of time you made us in your image,and in these last days you have spoken to usin your Son Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh.As we rejoice in the gift of your presence among uslet the light of your love always shine in our hearts,your Spirit ever renew our livesand your praises ever be on our lips.Blessed be God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.Blessed be God forever.

The night has passed, and the day lies open before us;let us pray with one heart and mind.

Silence is kept.

As we rejoice in the gift of this new day,so may the light of your presence, O God,set our hearts on fire with love for you;now and forever.Amen.

Confession of sin

Seek the Lord when he can still be found;call him while he is yet near.Let the wicked abandon their waysand the sinful their schemes.Let them return to the Lord so that he may have mercy on them,to our God, because he is generous with forgiveness.

cf Isaiah 55

A time of silence and self-examination may be kept.

Lord God,we have sinned against you;we have committed evil in your sight.We are sorry and repent.Have mercy on us according to your faithful love.Wash us completely clean of our guilt; purify us from our sin.Put a new, faithful spirit deep inside us,and return the joy of your salvation to usthrough Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen.

cf Psalm 51

May the Father of all merciescleanse us from our sins,and restore us in his imageto the praise and glory of his name,through Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen.

Bless the Lord,because he has listened to our request for mercy.Therefore our hearts will rejoiceand we will thank him with our song.

cf Psalm 28:7,9

The Word of God

Psalm 119:105-128

Refrain:Sustain me according to your word so I can live!

Your word is a lamp before my feet and a light for my journey.I have sworn, and I fully mean it: I will keep your righteous rules.I have been suffering so much— Lord, make me live again according to your promise.Please, Lord, accept my spontaneous gifts of praise. Teach me your rules!Though my life is constantly in danger, I won’t forget your Instruction.Though the wicked have set a trap for me, I won’t stray from your precepts.Your laws are my possession forever because they are my heart’s joy.I have decided to keep your statutes forever, every last one.

I hate fickle people, but I love your Instruction.You are my shelter and my shield— I wait for your promise.Get away from me, you evildoers; I want to guard my God’s commandments!Sustain me according to your word so I can live! Don’t let me be put to shame because of hope.Support me so I can be saved and so I can focus constantly on your statutes.You discard everyone who strays from your statutes because they are dishonest and false.You dispose of all the wicked people on earth like waste— that’s why I love your laws.My body shudders because I fear you; I’m in awe of your rules.

I’ve done what is just and right. Don’t just hand me over to my oppressors.Guarantee good things for your servant. Please don’t let the arrogant oppress me.My eyes are worn out looking for your saving help— looking for your word that will set things right.Act toward your servant according to your faithful love. Teach me your statutes!I’m your servant! Help me understand so I can know your laws.It is time for the Lord to do something! Your Instruction has been broken.But I love your commandments more than gold, even more than pure gold.That’s why I walk straight by every single one of your precepts. That’s why I hate every false path.

Glory to the Father and to the Sonand to the Holy Spirit;as it was in the beginning is nowand will be forever. Amen.

Refrain:Sustain me according to your word so I can live!

Psalm prayer

Old Testament readingIsaiah 59:9-20

Because of all this, justice is far from us, and righteousness beyond our reach.We expect light, and there is darkness; we await a gleam of light, but walk about in gloom.We grope along the wall like the blind; like those without eyes we grope.We stumble at noonday as if it were twilight, and among the strong as if we were dying.All of us growl like bears, and like doves we moan.We expect justice, but there is none; we await salvation, but it is far from us.Our rebellions are numerous in your presence; our sins testify against us.Our rebellions are with us; we’re aware of our guilt: defying and denying the Lord, turning away from our God, planning oppression and revolt, muttering lying words conceived in our minds.Justice is pushed aside; righteousness stands far off, because truth has stumbled in the public square, and honesty can’t enter.Truth is missing; anyone turning from evil is plundered.

The Lord looked and was upset at the absence of justice.Seeing that there was no one, and astonished that no one would intervene, God’s arm brought victory, upheld by righteousness, putting on righteousness as armor and a helmet of salvation on his head, putting on garments of vengeance, and wrapping himself in a cloak of zeal.God will repay according to their actions: wrath to his foes, retribution to enemies, retribution to the coastlands, so those in the west will fear the Lord’s name, and those in the east will fear God’s glory.It will come like a rushing river that the Lord’s wind drives on.A redeemer will come to Zion and to those in Jacob who stop rebelling, says the Lord.

Silence may be kept.

New Testament readingLuke 14:1-14

One Sabbath, when Jesus went to share a meal in the home of one of the leaders of the Pharisees, they were watching him closely. A man suffering from an abnormal swelling of the body was there. Jesus asked the lawyers and Pharisees, “Does the Law allow healing on the Sabbath or not?” But they said nothing. Jesus took hold of the sick man, cured him, and then let him go. He said to them, “Suppose your child or ox fell into a ditch on the Sabbath day. Wouldn’t you immediately pull it out?” But they had no response.

When Jesus noticed how the guests sought out the best seats at the table, he told them a parable. “When someone invites you to a wedding celebration, don’t take your seat in the place of honor. Someone more highly regarded than you could have been invited by your host. The host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give your seat to this other person.’ Embarrassed, you will take your seat in the least important place. Instead, when you receive an invitation, go and sit in the least important place. When your host approaches you, he will say, ‘Friend, move up here to a better seat.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow guests. All who lift themselves up will be brought low, and those who make themselves low will be lifted up.”

Then Jesus said to the person who had invited him, “When you host a lunch or dinner, don’t invite your friends, your brothers and sisters, your relatives, or rich neighbors. If you do, they will invite you in return and that will be your reward. Instead, when you give a banquet, invite the poor, crippled, lame, and blind. And you will be blessed because they can’t repay you. Instead, you will be repaid when the just are resurrected.”

Silence may be kept.

Gospel canticleThe Benedictus (The Song of Zechariah)

Refrain:Lord, you have raised up a mighty savior for us in your servant David’s house.

Bless the Lord God of Israelbecause he has come to help and has delivered his people.He has raised up a mighty savior for us in his servant David’s house,just as he said through the mouths of his holy prophets long ago.He has brought salvation from our enemiesand from the power of all those who hate us.He has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors,and remembered his holy covenant,the solemn pledge he made to our ancestor Abraham.He has granted that we would be rescuedfrom the power of our enemiesso that we could serve him without fear,in holiness and righteousness in God’s eyes,for as long as we live.You, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High,for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way.You will tell his people how to be savedthrough the forgiveness of their sins.Because of our God’s deep compassion,the dawn from heaven will break upon us,to give light to those who are sitting in darknessand in the shadow of death,to guide us on the path of peace.”

Luke 1:68-79

Glory to the Father and to the Sonand to the Holy Spirit;as it was in the beginning is nowand will be forever. Amen.

Refrain:Lord, you have raised up a mighty savior for us in your servant David’s house.

Brief silence.

The Apostle’s Creed

Let us unite in this historic confession of the Christian faith:

I believe in God, the Father Almighty,creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,born of the Virgin Mary,suffered under Pontius Pilate,was crucified, died, and was buried;he descended to the dead.On the third day he rose again;he ascended into heaven,is seated at the right hand of the Father,and will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,the holy catholic church,the communion of saints,the forgiveness of sins,the resurrection of the body,and the life everlasting. Amen.

Prayers

Intercession and thanksgiving

Prayers may be offered for:

the day and its tasksthe world and its needsthe church and her life

Other intercessions and supplications may be offered as the Holy Spirit leads.

Response

Father, hear our prayer,through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Silence may be kept.

Collect of the day

Blessed Lord,who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning:help us so to hear them,to read, mark, learn and inwardly digest themthat, through patience, and the comfort of your holy word,we may embrace and for ever hold fast the hope of everlasting life,which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ,who is alive and reigns with you,in the unity of the Holy Spirit,one God, now and forever. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

As our Savior taught us, so we pray

Our Father in heaven,hallowed be your name,your kingdom come,your will be done,on earth as in heaven.Give us today our daily bread.Forgive us our sinsas we forgive those who sin against us.Lead us not into temptationbut deliver us from evil.For the kingdom, the power,and the glory are yoursnow and forever.Amen.

Conclusion

The Lord bless us, and preserve us from all evil, and keep us in eternal life.Amen.